BULLDOGS FALL TO INTRASTATE RIVAL BROWN 5-4; OPEN NEC PLAY SATURDAY AGAINST THE MOUNT
March 25, 2010
BULLDOGS FALL TO INTRASTATE RIVAL BROWN 5-4; OPEN NEC PLAY SATURDAY AGAINST THE MOUNT
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Brown first baseman Kate Strobel’s
three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning propelled the
Brown Bears to a 5-4 win over the Bryant University softball team
Thursday afternoon at the very windy Bryant Softball complex.
Second baseman Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) paced
the Bulldogs, going 3-3 with 2 RBIs, while Brown’s Stephanie
Thompson led the way for the visiting Bears collecting 3 hits and a
RBI.
The Bulldogs (3-15) scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the third. Senior Kim Leonard (Milford, Mass.) started the inning by lacing a double to right-center to lead off the frame. Leonard, coming off a two-hit performance against Maine on Sunday, moved over to third on a passed ball. With one out, Bowen took Brown (11-6) starting pitcher Liz DiMascio’s first offering and drilled a double to left-center, giving Bryant a 1-0 lead. DiMascio was able to escape any further trouble, striking out freshmen Talia Zizza (Reading, Mass.) and Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) with the bases loaded to keep it a one-run game.
Bryant starting pitcher Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) was able to work out of trouble in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, the freshman stuck out her counterpart DiMascio and Lauren Katchee to keep the shutout in tact and the Bulldogs ahead.
Bryant put together a two-out rally in their half of the fourth to extend their lead. Lindsay Martin’s two-out double would plate Leonard making the score 2-0. Martin would then score on an infield hit by Bowen to increase the Bulldog’s lead to three.
The Bears would crack the scoring column in the fifth. After back to back walks to start the inning, Thompson hit a one-out line-drive double down the left field line to plate Erika Mueller and force Jacob out of the game. Freshmen pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) came into the game with runners on second and third and one out, setting up Strobel’s pivotal round tripper. Hart would retire the next two Brown batters to keep Brown’s lead at 4-3.
Brown would pick up an insurance run in the top of the sixth via a two-out single by Katie Rothamel scoring Avery Silverstein, making the score 5-3 in favor of the Bears.
Bryant threatened to come back in the bottom half of the sixth. Jacob would reenter the game and start the inning off with a double to straightaway centerfield. Three batters later, Bowen would hit an infield single for her third hit of the day and put runners on first and third for right fielder Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.). A throwing error by Brown catcher Amanda Asay on a failed pick off scored Jacob and advanced Bowen over to third, but Brown relief pitcher Kristie Chin would retire Murray ending the inning and keeping the score at 5-4.
After a line-drive double play to end the top half of the seventh, Bryant sent its 3-4-5 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. After an Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.) ground out, freshmen clean-up hitter Zizza singled to center. Junior Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) then sent a shallow fly to left that appeared to be falling for a hit, but shortstop Katie Rothamel made an over the shoulder catch. Rothamel then turned and fired a strike to first base, doubling up Zizza and subsequently ending the game giving the Bears the close victory.
Chin would pick up the win for the Bears, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing just three hits and one unearned run.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a Saturday double-header with NEC foe Mount St. Mary’s. It will be the first official Northeast Conference games in program history for Bryant. First pitch is set for 12pm. Brown next travels to Kingston, RI, for a double-header with URI.